Guerrero, Guillen Have MVP Claims

While the Dodgers have been beating the most valuable player drum for third baseman Adrian Beltre on an almost daily basis, the Angels have not launched any Heisman Trophy-like MVP campaign for right fielder Vladimir Guerrero.

Not that he isn’t deserving. Entering the last month of the regular season, Guerrero is batting .331 with 28 home runs, 33 doubles and 101 runs batted in, ranking among the top eight in the American League in each category.

“If a guy is truly deserving, the media will be drawn to him as an MVP candidate,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “ ... Our guys are having terrific years, and if we reach our goal [of making the playoffs], they will be deserving.”

Scioscia’s “guys” are Guerrero and left fielder Jose Guillen, who is batting .302 with 26 homers and 101 RBIs and could earn plenty of MVP votes. “He’s underrated,” Scioscia said of Guillen. “On the offensive end, his clutch hitting, providing protection for Vladi, and on the defensive end, he’s been terrific.”

Their stiffest competition for MVP honors could be found in the opposite dugout Tuesday night. Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez homered in his first two at-bats and is hitting .317 with 36 homers and 108 RBIs, and Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz is hitting .301 with 33 homers and 114 RBIs.

The other top candidates are Yankee right fielder Gary Sheffield (.297, 33 homers, 98 RBIs) and Oriole shortstop Miguel Tejada (.310, 26 homers, 118 RBIs).

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When Troy Glaus was activated Sunday, Scioscia said he would “ease” Glaus back into the heart of the lineup, giving him some pressure-free games in the seventh spot before moving him to the more critical sixth spot.

So much for lengthy transitions. After batting seventh Sunday, and going hitless and drawing two walks in four plate appearances, Glaus was moved to the sixth spot Tuesday night, ripping a double to center in the second inning and a single in the seventh.

“We hoped to give Troy more time at the bottom of the order, but he had good at-bats Sunday,” Scioscia said. “In a perfect world, you’d love to sit back and say let’s give him 10-12 at-bats, let him relax, but right now, he’s far enough ahead that he’s ready for this challenge.”

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Jarrod Washburn, who gave up one run and four hits and struck out five during a 75-pitch rehabilitation start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Sunday, will throw in the bullpen today.

Barring any setback, the Angel left-hander, sidelined since July 21 because of a strained ligament in his rib cage, will return Saturday night against Cleveland. Like Glaus, Washburn won’t have any time to ease himself back into the rotation.

“There’s no room for error because of how important every game is now,” Washburn said. “But that’s the way I like it.”

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First baseman Andres Galarraga, who hit a three-run home run for triple-A Salt Lake on Monday night, first baseman Casey Kotchman and utility player Shane Halter will be called up today, the first day teams can expand rosters to as many as 40 players.

Galarraga, a 43-year-old veteran who is two home runs away from 400, hit .313 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 24 games at Salt Lake. Kotchman hit .366 with five homers and 37 RBIs in 48 games for Salt Lake, and Halter hit .276 with six homers and 18 RBIs in 34 games.